Macmillan Cancer Support, a UK-based cancer charity, has invested in a new portable device and accompanying app called Neutrocheck.
The device is currently being developed by 52 North (52North - creators of Neutrocheck®)
52 North Health, a health technology company based in Cambridge aims to help people with cancer test their risk of life-threatening neutropenic sepsis at home, instead of at a hospital.
This low-cost portable device can rapidly identify chemotherapy patients who are at risk of sepsis with just a simple prick of the finger.
Neutropenic sepsis is a severe reaction to an infection that can affect the entire body. Symptoms can include fever or low temperature, which are often mistaken for flu-like symptoms and can be easily dismissed. Even mild illnesses can become fatal if left untreated.
Research suggests that for every hour a person has neutropenic sepsis before receiving treatment, their chances of survival can decrease by more than 7%. A devastatingly time-critical figure marking the difference between life and death.
The reason that people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy are at such a risk of developing neutropenic sepsis is because their immune system is suppressed. As a result, the vast majority of those who feel unwell are currently sent directly to the emergency department (ED) for treatment.
However, studies have shown that two in five of these ED visits are unnecessary, leading to added stress and disruption for cancer patients, as well as additional strain on healthcare resources.
These low-cost easy to use portable Neutrocheck devices have the potential to reduce these unnecessary hospital visits and drastically improve care for people with cancer.
By providing at-home access to Neutrocheck, people with cancer can take informed and immediate steps to seek care, and be prioritised in hospitals by healthcare professionals. Those not at risk could potentially avoid unnecessary travel and hospital visits, reducing stress and saving time and money.
Macmillan Cancer Support has already invested £100,000 in Neutrocheck as part of the charity's new Innovation Impact Investment Portfolio. The investment will help fund the development of new ways to transform the lives of people with cancer and inspire other organisations and investors to support innovation in cancer care.
Neutrocheck is currently going through rigorous clinical testing and is being shaped with insight from Macmillan's Innovation Community, a diverse group of people with lived experience of cancer, as well as doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, patients, and carers. Following a clinical validation study to be conducted in NHS hospitals, the device is expected to be available in 2024 to people with cancer through their healthcare providers.
The news is monumental and its successful implementation will make a positive difference in the lives of cancer patients across the UK. Macmillan's head of innovation partnerships, Tanya Humphreys said, "At Macmillan, we know we can and should have an important role in responding to anticipated advances in cancer care. Through impact investment, we can use over a century of experience in improving the lives of people with cancer to drive innovation in this space." Umaima Malik Ahmad, CEO of 52 North Health, added, "Neutrocheck is a game-changer and has the potential to significantly improve both safety and quality of life for people living with cancer, and we are delighted to receive this recognition from one of the UK's largest charities, in order to drive better cancer care together."
New innovation and technologies continue to shape the future of healthcare & with more support and investment behind the theory, Neutrocheck will be proof of the impact that has.
Sources:
https://www.med-technews.com/n...
https://www.cam.ac.uk/news/low...